New Knitter via DOCTORS ORDERS!

#1

:roflhard: Very funny here… long story short I was told by my doctor to find an activity that is relaxing (small anger managment thing here).
My problem is that I tend to get easily frustrated and now I have question:

I grasp the concept of the Double Cast On and have gotten quite swift with it. I learn better through video then simply reading something.

The videos on the site have how to cast on…and how to knit.
However, the knitting videos start after a good bit of knitting has already been done. :frowning:

I can’t seem to get going once I’ve cast on.
My needle size is a 7.
The yarn I’m afraid I wouldn’t know what on the package you’d need to know.

I just can’t seem to get going after I cast on! :frowning:
PLEASE HELP!!! :blush:

#2

The first stitch is the hardest. :slight_smile: Seriously.

I’m not sure what you’ve tried, but I’ll try to describe what happens after the cast-on.

Make sure the “cast on edge” is all nicely and neatly lined up, and that the first stitch is pretty close to the tip of the needle (but not so close that it’s going to fall off on its own).

Wrap the yarn in your left hand as shown in the videos (I wrap it around my pinky… it won’t matter for the first few stitches, really, because you can just wrap it manually until you get the hang of it).

You take the needle taht you’ve cast on to and hold it in your left hand. Hold the needle so that the cast-on edge is on the right hand side.

The empty needle should be in the right hand.

Now, you will start knitting. You’ll insert the needle into the first stitch as shown on the videos and so on.

Your first stitch will be very loose and as you progress across the line of stitches you’ll have more control. But, don’t worry too much about loose stitches or whatever until you have the motion of knitting down. :slight_smile:

Hope this helps. I’m sure other more experienced people will respond as well with better advice. Hang in there! Knitting is soooooo relaxing and therapeutic once you get the knit and purl stitch down.

#3

Here is a site with instructions for getting started–no video, just pictures.

And another,with video, too.

Welcome to the world of knitting. It can be almost Zenlike in it’s relaxing rhythm. It can also get you really p*ssed!!

I wish I had a doctor’s note. :wink:

#4

Great advice from the doctor, can you get a prescription for yarn and knitting needles? :wink:

Really knitting your first row isn’t any different than knitting your fifth row or fiftieth row (depending on your particular pattern of course). Your first few rows usually end up kind of wonky looking at first, but the more rows you knit, the more weight your project will get to help straighten things out. Just make sure that your stitches haven’t spiraled themselves around the needle while you are doing those first few rows.

Have you watched the video that is demo of a small project? That might help you get started after your cast on. Just pick the one depending on if you knit continental (working yarn held in your left hand) or English (yarn in your right hand)

http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/misc.php

#5

Hmmm…will insurance cover the cost of supplies?

Sounds like a great doctor to me. If every doctor took the approach that alternative therapies are effective alternatives to medication (he could have just written a script for valium) then real world health care costs might go down.

But I cant resist - If I call in sick to work I have to have a doctors note.
I would love to be able to go into work with a note that reads:

"Suzette saw me yesterday for illness. It was my recommendation that she stay at home and knit. " :XX:

#6

Can you imagine the line of knitters outside that doctor’s door? :rofling:

#7

:roflhard:

You guys are absolutely too funny!!
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I now know I’m not doing something wrong and I’m just gonna have to grin and bear it.
The doctor that recommended I start knitting was my ObGyn.
I recently had my first child, a boy (10lbs 1oz and 21 inches long, c-section) and during the pregnancy my ability to control my anger was frightening even to myself. She DID prescribe Zoloft, but unfortunately just sitting here (hubby is a Merchant Mariner) all by myself made it worse even on that.
She suggested something OTHER than computer what-not.
My leggs swelled so bad I could barely walk. I HAD to have something calming.
Books just didn’t cut it for me because I can’t read and learn at the same time very well.
This is why I LOVE this site!! :heart:
Because I can WATCH what I’m supposed to be doing!!

Thank you all so much and please, keep 'em coming!
I need all the help I can get not to throw my needles out the window!!

#8

I had a doctor that decided kickboxing or yoga was the trick for my stress, I decided on knitting because at the end of the day, while a tiny body is fantastic, I’ll get more compliments for a nicely made poncho.

One thing as a beginner, never be afraid to start over from the beginning (more than once if you have to). I’ve started this poncho over at least five times, and as many as 24 rows in. If it looks like it is going badly, start over, watch the videos again to get a refresher, and your project will be all the better for it.

#9

My leggs swelled so bad I could barely walk.

I feel for you! I had edema so badly during my pregnancy with my son that the nurses in the hospital used my case as an example for the interns! And just so ya know - I had some really wild emotions during my pregnancy. All those hormones floating around and the stress of what may be is really scary. I scared myself so badly one time that I asked my husband to take me to the hospital. (He wouldnt. I did calm down)
See if you can find a “mommy club” in your area. Its a big help.
Even if you dont find your group particulary engaging there is always someone around willing to hold the little one while you take a rest (and knit). Bless you!

#10

Oh yes those raging hormones! And bless you for basically going through it all by yourself!!! Zoloft made my dad almost suicidal - sometimes the meds can make things worse.

I DID throw my needles and yarn - several times :doh: Nothing wrong with that, as long as you pick them up again! It took me a few weeks of an hour of trying here and there.

My biggest advice - don’t start on a project first. Make a few swatches so you don’t get frustrated that you are “wasting” yarn for your project.

#11

I agree with Kitkat. Just knit. Don’t plan a big project, just cast on stitches and knit, knit, knit (and purl). You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also learn a lot, get your hands used to knitting and purling so when you do make something, you’ll have some degree of even tension and an idea as to what things are supposed to look like. Put that thing you knit aside and look at it in a month and you’ll be impressed by how far you’ve come.

#12

:smiley: What they said!!! Welcome. Relax, enjoy. Maybe use extra pretty yarn so even something very small and simple will look impressive.